lost me keys???

[wnbasac]

i owen a 1955 champion deluxe hardtop that i lost my keys while in long term storage
>
can i remove the ignition and have a key made or do i need to replace the ignition and door/trunk locks???
>
how do i remove the ignition if i need to do that????
>
i live in calif near sacramento, is there a stude parts store near by????
>
thanks 4 any help u might be able 2 give me. lou

[Anne F. Goodman]

boy if someone near you has a Studebaker their keys might just fit your car. If you have AAA they make keys for you

Mabel 1949 Champion
Hawk 1957 Silverhawk
Gus 1958 Transtar
The Prez 1955 President State
Blu 1957 Golden Hawk
Daisy 1954 Commander Regal Coupe
Fresno,Ca

[StudeRich]

quote:Originally posted by wnbasac

can i remove the ignition and have a key made or do i need to replace the ignition and door/trunk locks???
how do i remove the ignition if i need to do that????

Probably the best way to start is to reach under the dash [u]WITH THE BATTERY CABLE DISCONNECTED</u> and push into the back side of the dash (to the rear of the car) on the switch and turn it a quarter turn clockwise (from the rear) while holding the Bezel on the front of dash to unlock the chrome bezel, the switch will come out from the back of the dash, then mark the wires or make a note of their color and term name: Ign. Acc. Batt. and Start, then remove all wires to get the switch Assy. out.

If you call one of the Studebaker Vendors listed on studebakervendors.com website they do not need to be near you, but Studebakers West actually is, they will have a replacement Ignition Lock cylinder and Keys and will mail it to you.

Then you take the new Lock Cyl. & keys with the old Ign. Switch to a real locksmith shop (not Lowes or Home Depot) they can drill out the tumblers to remove the old lock and pop the new one right in if they can not just key it (maybe ask the locksmith first, before ordering the new Cyl.), car locks do not come out of the switch without the key.
This will result in a key for Ignition, and if the Ign. lock could not be keyed, you still have to remove one door lock from inside of the door to have it keyed and you will have another long key blank the same as Ignition, but keyed different for hopefully BOTH doors if they were the same before, as they should be.

Another option is to call Studebaker International or other Studebaker Vendor and order '63 Hawk door and Ignition lock set Studebaker part # 1558202 for around $150.00 and forget most of the above. It also fits all '55 to '62 Coupes & Hardtops, and you will have all three New door & Ign. locks keyed alike with 2 keys and I suggest ordering 1 or 2 more Studebaker key blanks 1555550 to have duplicated by the locksmith for spares, to prevent this occurrence from repeating.

Then the Glove Box and Trunk Key (short 4 tumbler key), just remove the glove compartment lock and have it keyed by the locksmith and that key should fit the trunk also. You can order Studebaker key blanks for dup. keys to these locks also.

It really is not as hard as it sounds, but a Studebaker will be partially disassembled, but not harmed to accomplish this task!

StudeRich

[53k]

quote:Originally posted by wnbasac

i owen a 1955 champion deluxe hardtop that i lost my keys while in long term storage
&gt;
can i remove the ignition and have a key made or do i need to replace the ignition and door/trunk locks???
&gt;
how do i remove the ignition if i need to do that????
&gt;
i live in calif near sacramento, is there a stude parts store near by????
&gt;
thanks 4 any help u might be able 2 give me. lou

The production order has the ignition key number on it. A REAL locksmith can cut a new key using that code. I did that for a '65 Cruiser I bought at a sheriff's auction. That way I got a key that worked the door locks too.




Paul Johnson, Wild and Wonderful West Virginia. '64 Daytona Wagonaire, '64 Daytona convertible, '53 Commander Starliner, Museum R-4 engine, '62 Gravely Model L, '72 Gravely Model 430

[sals54]

I'm in Sacramento. I have a bunch of Studebaker keys. DO NOT try to remove the ignition cylinder if you don't have to. The chrome ring is very fragile and may break if not done with some knowledge of how its installed. Let me know if you would like me to come down and try some of my keys. My spare keys have been used on many of the cars bought on craigslist which did not have them. I have one key that opens most Studebaker trunks. I've even had the pleasure of opening a young lady's locked Volvo with one of my Stude keys. On another occasion, I "stole" my friends 56 Chevy truck with my Stude key. He was frantic for a short time. He got me back later though when he "stole" my car. We were just a couple of high school dorks back then, not thinking of getting shot for grand theft auto.

sals54

[wnbasac]

WOW, thanks to all that replied!!!!!
&gt;
I'm getting ready to retire in a couple of weeks so i'll tackle the project then and keep you posted
&gt;
sals54 i can't say enough about your willingness/ Generosity to help me out!!!!!!!!!
&gt;
its TRUE that you'll find the best people behind the wheel of a Studebaker
&gt;
thanks again and have a Great and Safe upcoming 4th of July!!!!!!!!!!!

[GEEMAC]

I had no keys for my 63 lark so last week i took the switch & door locks to a old locksmith, he told me all he would have to do was pick the swich to line up the tumblers then the pin would line up with the hole in the cly.,push the pin down and slide the cly. out than cut the key to match tumblers.Said it would be a couple of weeks as he was going on vacation, Maybe i will know by C.R. time Mac

[dixchief]

I had no keys for my Avanti.I took out the switch (as described above) and brought it to a local locksmith. He had to order a blank but that was it. He didn't have to reconfigure the tumblers. Total for 2 keys was $17. Richard

[Jersey2J]

I have a full set of keys for our '50 Champion (door/ignit, trunk and glove box) and had extras of the ignit. key made from Stude blanks using a grinder at Hollywood Hardware on Freeport Blvd. Good old school hardware guys.

Excuse the ignorance, but if the '50 keys could work on you car, I'm willing to let you borrow them for a few hours ... maybe tie them to a large object before loaning them out. :-)

Good to meet the other Sac Stude folks.

Our Champion: http://www.studebakerguide.com/2008/...otographs.html

Regards,
Jason

jason@jasonmichaels.com

Jersey2J | Sacramento, CA
9G 1950 Studebaker Champion
W3 4-Door DeLuxe
Visit my Studebaker website. Updated often with Studebaker minutia - http://www.studebakerguide.com

[wnbasac]

thanks 2 everyone who replied to my situation
&gt;
I'm truly overwhelmed with everyones support and generosity!!!!!!!
&gt;
i'm going to try to remove the switch and door locks to have some keys made 1st
&gt;
i'll let everyone know the out outcome
&gt;
oh is there a trick to removing the ignition switch????
&gt;
thanks lou

[rockne10]

quote:is there a trick to removing the ignition switch????

I'm not familiar with the '55 but DO disconnect the battery before you proceed.

Brad Johnson
Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
'33 Rockne 10, '51 Commander Starlight, '53 Commander Starlight

[HarryStude]

My brother in Law is a sheriff's deputy and a locksmith on the side he can make a set of keys without removing the locks and ignition from the car he has enough experience and the right equipment that he can make a template inside of the lock and cut a key that way. So if you had a good locksmith around you you should be able to get it done without too much trouble and work.

PROUDLY MADE IN AMERICA

[Lincoln77]

(dixchief) $17.00 is a great price for two keys. I charge $30.00 to hand fit a key. If there is a code then cheaper.
If you do go to a locksmith be sure to get references from others. Just because they work in a locksmith shop doesn't make them a locksmith. Good Luck Keith

1963 Cruiser, 2-1963 Wagonaire, 1952 Champion. Based Willamette
Valley Oregon.
1952 Ford F-1, 1977 Lincoln Continental (all works in progress)